National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry

ICECHIM

G2: Alternative bioresources and biofuels

About us

In the last years, Alternative Bioresources and Biofuels Team’s (E2) research was focused on 2 important directions: 1. Alternative Bioresources – research activities regarding on use of microalgae for the decontamination of wastewater; the complex use of microalgae for obtaining useful compounds (lipids, antioxidants, biostimulants, phytocatalysts); sustainable biosequestration of GHG in microalgal photosynthetic systems; exploitation of natural resources to obtain food supplements. 2. Biofuels – research activities regarding on the obtaining of third-generation biofuels (aviation biofuels from algal oil) and second-generation biofuels (biodiesel); biogas obtaining; valorisation of by-products from the biodiesel production; ecological solvents from animal or vegetables wastes. Interdisciplinary profile of Alternative Bioresources and Biofuels Team allows to carry out applied research in chemistry field and organic chemistry technologies (non-petrochemical products, organic intermediary, complex biomass refinery), unconventional technologies, ecological technologies and products, chemical and instrumental analysis, technological transfer, consulting, management and execution of national and international research projects.

Team

Team leader, Scientific Rsearcher 2nd degree

Dr. Eng.

Extension: 130

Team vice-lider, Senior Researcher 3rd degree

Dr. Eng.

Extension: 173

Senior Researcher Ist degree

Dr. Eng.

Extension: 105

Scientific researcher 2nd degree

Dr. Chem.

Extension: 158

Scientific Rsearcher 2nd degree

Dr. Eng.

Extension: 158

Scientific researcher 2nd degree

Eng.

Extension: 174

Senior Researcher 3rd degree

Dr. Biolog

Extension: 110

Scientific Researcher 3rd degree

Dr. Chem.

Extension: 161

Senior Researcher 3rd degree

Dr. Biochem.

Extension: 163

Scientific Researcher 3rd degree

Dr. Eng.

Extension: 173

Scientific Researcher, PhD Student

Eng.

Extension: 173

Scientific Researcher, PhD Student

Chem.

Extension: 173

Scientific Research Assistant

Chem.

Extension: 110

Scientific Research Assistant, PhD. Student

Eng.

Extension: 174

Scientific Research Assistant, Master Student

Eng.

Extension: 161

Scientific Research Assistant

Eng.

Extension: 163

Andra

Scientific Research Assistant, PhD. Student

Eng.

Extension: 110

Research equipment
International projects
National projects

Energetic efficiency biogas plants improvement by integrated system: biogas-microalgae-biofuels in frame of biorefinery concept (AlgalBiogasConceptEnergy)

Development and demonstration of innovative technologies to optimize the biogas plants by integrating the open ponds for microalgae cultivation using the digestate resulted from anaerobic digestion as a culture medium

Value added products from microalgae biomass applying biorefinery concepts (AlgaeBioef)

By adopting the concept “zero waste”, the project aims to convert the exhausted biomass from active principles into biocarbons with adsorbent properties, which will be tested for the retention of inorganic compounds.

Complete Recovery of Fish and Oilseed Wastes Extracts/Hydrolysates in Microcapsules Usable as Fertilizers or Nutraceuticals (NutraFert)

“NutraFert” – The complete recovery of wastes of fish and oilseed as extracts and hydrolysates for microencapsulation, the final product being used as fertilizer or nutraceuticals

Results
  • Publications
  • Books
  • Conferences
  • Patents
  • Other
Publications

Oprescu, EE., Enascuta, C.E., Radu E., Ciltea-Udrescu M., Lavric, V.

Does the ultrasonic field improve the extraction productivity compared to classical methods – Maceration and reflux distillation?

Chemical Engineering & Processing: Process Intensification, 179 (2022) 109082.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2022.109082

Vintila A.C.N, Vlaicu A.,Radu E., Ciltea-Udrescu M., Enascuta C.E., Banu I., Oprescu E.E.

Evaluation of ultrasound assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from microalgae

Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 16, (2022), 2518–2526

WOS:000770744200001

Oprescu, EE., Enascuta, C.E., Vasilievici, G., Nicoleta Banu D., Banu I.

Preparation of magnetic biochar for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions

Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 135, (2022), 2629–2642

WOS:000826145400002

Babeanu N., Radu N., Enascuta C.E., Alexandrescu E., Ganciarov M., Omar M.S., Suica-Bunghez I.R., Senin R., Ursu M., Bostan M.

Obtaining and characterizing composite biomaterials of animal resources with potential applications in regenerative medicine

Polymers. 14(17) (2022), 3544

WOS:000851682100001

Oprescu, E.-E., Enascuta, C.-E., Doukeh, R., Calin, C., Lavric V.

Characterizing and using a new bi-functional catalyst to sustainably synthesize methyl levulinate from biomass carbohydrates

Renewable Energy, (2021), 176, 651 – 662

WOS:000660528900007

Gaidau C., Epure D.-G., Enascuta C.E., Carsote C., Sendrea C., Proietti N., Chen W., Gu H.

Wool keratin total solubilisation for recovery and reintegration – An ecological approach

Journal of Cleaner Production, (2019), 236, 117586

WOS:000483414000042

Banu I., Ganea R.,Vasilievici G., Anghel A., Gogulancea V., Isopencu G., Bozga G.

An Evaluation of Published Kinetic Models for Vapor Phase Methanol Conversion to Dimethyl Ether over the H-ZSM-5 Catalyst

Energy & Fuels, 32 (8), 8689–8699, 2018

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b01839

Ana-Maria Galan, Ioan Calinescu, Adrian Trifan, Charles Winkworth-Smith, Miguel Calvo-Carrascal, Chris Dodds, Eleanor Binner

New insights into the role of selective and volumetric heating during microwave extraction: Investigation of the extraction of polyphenolic compounds from sea buckthorn leaves using Microwave-Assisted Extraction and Conventional Solvent Extraction

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 116, 2017, 29-39

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2017.03.006

Camelia Rovinaru, Diana Pasarin

Application of Microencapsulated Synbiotics in Fruit-Based Beverages

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 2019, 11 (2), 1-10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-019-09579-w

Adriana Nicoleta Frone, Ioana Chiulan, Denis Mihaela Panaitescu, Cristian Andi Nicolae, Marius Ghiurea, Ana-Maria Galan

Isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from plum seed shells, structural and morphological characterization

Materials Letters 194, 2017, 160- 163

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.02.051

Books
Conferences
Patents

Rovinaru C., Pasarin D., Velea S., Raceanu G., Anton L.

Compoziţie pentru învelişuri alimentare comestibile cu funcţionalitate îmbunătăţită, pe bază de proteine vegetale

RO130655

Pasarin D., Rovinaru C., Oancea F., Raceanu G., Avram M.

Produs alimentar prebiotic, pe bază de zer dulce integral, şi procedeu de obţinere

RO130656

Rovinaru C., Pasarin D.

Procedeu de adaptare a drojdiei Kluyveromyces Marxianus pentru creşterea randamentului de obţinere de biomasă

RO132585

Stepan E., Velea S., Vasilievici G., Bombos M., Enăşcuţă C., Oprescu E.E., Radu E., Radu A.

Biocarburant pentru avioane cu turbina, si procedeu de obtinere a acestuia

RO131876

Velea S., Bozga G., Blajan O.

Fluxanţi ecologici pentru bitum rutier pe bază de acetine şi procedeu de obţinere a acestora

RO133835

Velea S., Bomboş M. M., Doukeh R., Vasilievici G., Oprescu E. E., Bomboş D., Călin C.

Catalizator pe bază de Mo şi procedeu de piroliză lentă a biomasei pe acest catalizator

RO134949

Stepan E., Velea S., Enăşcuţă C., Radu E., Gaidău C., Niculescu M., Gidea M., Epure D.-G., Becheritu M.

Compozitie pentru prevenirea despicarii silicvelor de rapita si procedeu pentru obtinerea acesteia

RO132408

Other